New 1/2" Ratchet

[WANNAFARM2]

I'm currently running a HF Pittsburg flex head. It will be getting moved to my pickup toolbox to replace a worn out Craftsman.

Looking to get a new ratchet for my toolbox in the shop. Would like to go flex head 15-18" in length.

Currently looking at the new Icon, SK LP90, or Tekton. Anyone have experience with these? I imagine which ever route I go, I will eventually purchase the various sizes/versions of that brand to upgrade what is currently in my box.

 

[demarpaint]

Of the wrenches you mentioned I'd go with SK.

 

[lardy1]

I've never used an Icon. I have an lp90 and a Tekton 90 and like them both.

Lots of nice ratchets across a broad price spectrum these days. Decide what's important to you in a ratchet and follow that. You'll end up with a nice ratchet. Or two. Or three.

 

[Mr_B]

Icon flex ratchets a poor buy as mechanism design real poor .
Only ICON ratchets I would rate half decent buy would be the roto heads .
Tekton not too bad, you want look at carlyle CHT R12NLF and Capri CP12500FX also .

 

[exmaxima1]

I like my Proto 5457F (made by Facom) and it’s half the cost of the SK LP90 flex

 

[Mr_B]

^
That's a good buy, made in Italy !?

 

[vssjim]

I would also look at 90 tooth Gearwrench, I have SK TEKTON and GearWrench and like them all.

 

[richfinn]

https://www.primetools.co.uk/produc...MI8ZKBx9Kz6gIVCbrtCh2etQeNEAQYASABEgKmFvD_BwE

One of these will be my next 1/2" ratchet, just waiting til the price bottoms out before I strike

 

[Mgdoug3]

I would go with the SK because I like made in the USA tools. There's plenty of people who like Tekton though. I have the 15" and 24" SK LP90 flex. I found the 24" one on-sale and think I gave less than the 15" one.

 

[Mr_B]

https://www.primetools.co.uk/produc...MI8ZKBx9Kz6gIVCbrtCh2etQeNEAQYASABEgKmFvD_BwE

One of these will be my next 1/2" ratchet, just waiting til the price bottoms out before I strike

Yes they a well design product and prices can be real good value .
I have the 3/8 and 1/2
really like the slender head design recessed selector and reverse yoke
extending mechanism well done and precise ...

 

[Handyandy23]

I love my Tekton flex head, hard to beat for the price IMO. Head is very small, mechanism smooth. I put a couple drops of 3 in 1 oil in it and it got even smoother.

Can't comment on the others since I haven't used them.

 

[setfocus]

I've got the snap-on SX80B locking flex, love that ratchet but it is pretty $$$, I really want the 3/8 version FX80A but can't justify the money when I've already got an 12" matco 88 locking flex

For usa made that's cheaper, I've read that a lot of guys love the old school roundhead SK flex neck 1/2" ratchet. I'm sure it's cheaper than the LP90's but the roundhead is bulkier and comes with course tooth mech but can be replaced with the double tooth. I'm sure Proto makes a decent 1/2" flex as well

People seem to like the older 84t and 90t gearwrench's more than the newer 120t. I've heard tekton makes good ratchets. Could always buy a second HF Pitt ratchet, if you like the one you already have. From what I've read, doesn't seem to be much proof that the Icon ratchets are really any better than the Pitt

I'm sure there are some nice european and japanese ratchets, don't know much about them, not really fond of the modern esthetics

 

[lardy1]

For usa made that's cheaper, I've read that a lot of guys love the old school roundhead SK flex neck 1/2" ratchet. I'm sure it's cheaper than the LP90's but the roundhead is bulkier and comes with course tooth mech but can be replaced with the double tooth.

The OP hadn't mentioned the SK roundheads so I didn't comment on them earlier. I love them. I recently bought the 1/2" version for around seventy five or eighty dollars. I also have it in 3/8" Not the newest technology but fantastic ratchets.

 

[dnschmidt]

Of the three choices mentioned I'd go Tekton. Good ****, fair price, what's not to like? The only thing I don't like about the Tekton is the detents. I don't like detents in flex head ratchets. I have no idea why any manufacturer puts these into these tools but most of them do. OK I'll admit it I hate detents. The good thing about the Tekton is the 90 tooth head. Really smooth.

 

[exmaxima1]

^
That's a good buy, made in Italy !?

I thought it said "France" on the packaging, but I can't say for sure. No markings on the ratchet

 

[setfocus]

The OP hadn't mentioned the SK roundheads so I didn't comment on them earlier. I love them. I recently bought the 1/2" version for around seventy five or eighty dollars. I also have it in 3/8" Not the newest technology but fantastic ratchets.

I don't have the 1/2" drive but I recently got the 3/8" version and put the DT80 mech in. Bought it to upgrade a crappy coarse tooth, china made "companion" tool set ratchet for light home use. Took it to work to try it out and now I don't want to bring it back

 

[lardy1]

I don't have the 1/2" drive but I recently got the 3/8" version and put the DT80 mech in. Bought it to upgrade a crappy coarse tooth, china made "companion" tool set ratchet for light home use. Took it to work to try it out and now I don't want to bring it back

I spent money on locking flex Carlyle's. I truly love those ratchets. But I like the non locking, no detent SK.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I would run the Pittsburgh pro before the icon. I just this week replced my Pittsburgh pro flex heads with Carlyle long handle lock flex Head with quick release and comfort grip. The 1/2in head it the same size as hf 3/8 head so it can fit in a tighter space. For the 1/2 and 3/8in it was $162ish but the lady at napa cut some $ off

 

[Lprock]

I picked up the Mac Axis locking flex 18". It's a real pleasure to use. But while changing my wife's brakes yesterday, it is starting to feel loose inside. Haven't explored the problem yet, may just have the Mac guy check it out.

 

[JP Chestnut]

I don’t understand the value proposition of SK. At retail it’s genuinely expensive (~$120 for some versions of that LP90). With discount, I’d still pay extra for like new snap on, or matco.

 

[Fedwrench]

Of the three choices mentioned, I would go with Tekton. Tekton's quality to price is unbeatable. They offer excellent warranty service, and if you order from Tekton.com you get free shipping to the USA and 10% back in rewards points for future orders. Did I mention that their 90 tooth ratchets are great ratchets too?

As for Icon, it's too soon to tell if they're any good. We know Harbor Freight had issues with their Icon 3/8 flex head and ended up recalling all of those. I don't have a lot of faith in Icon at this point despite owning a few of their tools.

I honestly can't recommend an SK LP90 flex head ratchet. I wan to like them and give SK the benefit of the doubt but, every SK LP90 flex head ratchet I have came with issues new out of the wrapper. Binding flex heads, stubborn direction switches, and chrome issues. I get that everyone wants to support a made in the USA brand but, it's a two way street. SK first needs to make a quality piece worthy of me spending money on. I haven't had any issues with SK's fixed head LP90 ratchets other than minor finish issues which are ok because with use, you don't notice them under the grime and scratches.

Good luck in your quest

 

[m6z]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/392193370486

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[richfinn]

Yes they a well design product and prices can be real good value .
I have the 3/8 and 1/2
really like the slender head design recessed selector and reverse yoke
extending mechanism well done and precise ...

I've had good luck with Facom over the years, I like the designs and quality has been good and if you shop carefully it's good value.

I like the idea of the extendable handle so I can just carry one 1/2" ratchet

 

[lardy1]

I bought both my Carlyle locking flex ratchets from an eBay seller from the UK. I'm pretty sure I'll never get any warranty on them but they were way cheaper than NAPA online.

 

[bassbone52]

There is a guy in the classifieds that has a couple Snap On 1/2” ratchets for sale. Fine tooth, one is a flex. The OP might check out those

 

[Rabid Badger]

The Powerbuilt Pro is worth a look;

https://www.amazon.com/Powerbuilt-Flex-Head-Ratchet-Contour-Handle/dp/B073WHD99Q

They have a nice 72-tooth mechanism with very little backlash in a head so compact you'll think it's a 3/8 drive the first time you see it. I have one with a 24" handle and it doesn't have any trouble breaking loose suspension bolts. The detent system for the flex head is great, too. Plenty of positions and excellent retention.